Subject: The Origin Of The 12 Days Of Christmas{Insp}
From: Unicorn (unicorn@indenial.com)
Date: Mon Jan 31 2000 - 03:55:31 EST
"The Origin Of The 12 Days Of Christmas"
People often think of 'The Twelve Days of
Christmas' as the days preceding the festival.
Actually, Christmas is a season of the Christian
Year that lasts for the twelve days beginning
December 25 and lasting until January 6 - the
Day of Epiphany, when the church celebrates
the revelation of Christ as the Light of the world
and recalls the journey of the magi.
From 1558 until 1829 Roman Catholics in England
were not allowed to practice their faith openly.
During that era someone wrote 'The Twelve Days
of Christmas' as a kind of secret catechism that
could be sung in public without the risk of persecution.
'The 12 Days of Christmas' is, in essence, an
allegory. The song has two levels of interpretation:
the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known
only to members of the church.
Each element in the carol is a code word for a
religious reality. The "true love" represents G-d
and the "me" who receives these presents is the
Christian (a Catholic in this case).
The hidden meanings are:
The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ a tree
as a gift from G-d.
The two turtledoves are the Old and New
Testaments, another gift from G-d.
Three French hens stand for faith, hope and love -
the three gifts of the Spirit that abide (I Corinthians 13).
The four calling birds are the four Gospels, which
sing the song of salvation through Jesus Christ.
The five gold rings recall the Torah (Law) the first
five books of the Old Testament, also called the
"Books of Moses."
The six geese a-laying stand for the six days of
creation.
Seven swans a-swimming represent the sevenfold
gifts of the Spirit (I Corinthians 12:8-11, Romans
12, Ephesians 4, 1 Peter 4:10-11).
The eight maids a-milking are the eight beatitudes.
Nine ladies dancing? These are the nine fruits of
the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
The ten lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments.
Eleven pipers piping stand for the eleven faithful
disciples. (Excludes Judas.)
Twelve drummers drumming symbolize the 12
points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.
So the next time you hear "The 12 Days of
Christmas," consider how this otherwise
non-religious-sounding song had its origins
in the Christian faith.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b28 : Tue Feb 01 2000 - 00:00:06 EST